Monday, March 17, 2014

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Read It:
Jesus said to his disciples:
“Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

“Stop judging and you will not be judged.
Stop condemning and you will not be condemned.
Forgive and you will be forgiven.
Give and gifts will be given to you;
a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing,
will be poured into your lap.
For the measure with which you measure
will in return be measured out to you.”

Reflect on It: We are called to love. Today's gospel is about the fact that we are called to love. This doesn't mean we're not called to challenge people in that love, but above all, love is what we need to be about. Forgive and you will be forgiven. At the end of our lives, we will be measured based on how we love, so go for it, love without cost and without limitation!


Pray about It: Sweet Jesus, help me to love like you love: With my whole heart.


Live It! Challenge: Today, make sure you show your love to someone by performing an act of service for them.

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Second Sunday of Lent: March 16, 2014

Read It:
Jesus took Peter, John, and James
and went up the mountain to pray.
While he was praying his face changed in appearance
and his clothing became dazzling white.
And behold, two men were conversing with him, Moses and Elijah,
who appeared in glory and spoke of his exodus
that he was going to accomplish in Jerusalem.
Peter and his companions had been overcome by sleep,
but becoming fully awake,
they saw his glory and the two men standing with him.
As they were about to part from him, Peter said to Jesus,
“Master, it is good that we are here;
let us make three tents,
one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”
But he did not know what he was saying.
While he was still speaking,
a cloud came and cast a shadow over them,
and they became frightened when they entered the cloud.
Then from the cloud came a voice that said,
“This is my chosen Son; listen to him.”
After the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone.
They fell silent and did not at that time
tell anyone what they had seen.


Reflect on It: Can you imagine what it would be like to be on a mountain top with Jesus, just to pray and all of the sudden, Moses and Elijah appear and it starts to go cray? Literally , this is what happened. They see the Glory of God and Jesus is transfigured. Think about how differently your life would be from that moment on. The transfiguration is about Peter, John and James seeing the face of Christ, hearing from God and living differently. How are we called to live differently today? Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI said, those who have hope, are called to live differently. We have Hope in our Lord. Live differently today.

Pray about It: Lord, you are constantly speaking to each one of us. Help me to hear your voice today and to live differently because of it. Amen!

Live It! Challenge: Pray today for those who's lives can be changed by hearing the word of God.

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Saturday, March 15, 2014

Read It:
Jesus said to his disciples:
“You have heard that it was said,
You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.
But I say to you, love your enemies,
and pray for those who persecute you,
that you may be children of your heavenly Father,
for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good,
and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust.
For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have?
Do not the tax collectors do the same?
And if you greet your brothers and sisters only,
what is unusual about that?
Do not the pagans do the same?
So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

Reflect on It: Be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect. This is a great call for each of us. Jesus loved his enemies. In the midst of his suffering and gruesome death, he loved those who put him to death. We are called to love our enemies with the same heart and mind. Of course, that perfection belongs to our Lord, but we should strive to be like him. Where are you in your Lenten fasting? How is it going? I know for me, parts of it have been super hard. The good news is that Jesus is merciful. Every day is a new day to start again.

Pray about It: Sweet Jesus, help me to be perfect as you are perfect! Amen.

Live It! Challenge: Today, pray for your biggest enemy.

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March 14, 2014

Read It:
Jesus said to his disciples:
“I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that
of the scribes and Pharisees,
you will not enter into the Kingdom of heaven.

“You have heard that it was said to your ancestors,
You shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment.
But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother
will be liable to judgment,
and whoever says to his brother, Raqa,
will be answerable to the Sanhedrin,
and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ will be liable to fiery Gehenna.
Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar,
and there recall that your brother
has anything against you,
leave your gift there at the altar,
go first and be reconciled with your brother,
and then come and offer your gift.
Settle with your opponent quickly while on the way to court.
Otherwise your opponent will hand you over to the judge,
and the judge will hand you over to the guard,
and you will be thrown into prison.
Amen, I say to you,
you will not be released until you have paid the last penny.

Reflect on It: I think today's gospel gives us a great challenge to reconcile ourselves to one another. If we have a grudge, we should go to the person whom we are upset with and seek reconciliation. We all have someone that it's hard for us to love. Is it worth it though? why are you mad? Today, go and seek their forgiveness and pray for them.

Pray about It: Lord, you teach us to forgive one another as you have forgiven us. Help me to see how you love the person who has most wronged me. Help me to see them with your eyes and your heart. Amen.

Live It! Challenge: Pray for the person who has wronged you and then go and ask for forgiveness for holding a grudge.

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March 13, 2014

Read It:
Jesus said to his disciples:
“Ask and it will be given to you;
seek and you will find;
knock and the door will be opened to you.
For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds;
and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
Which one of you would hand his son a stone
when he asked for a loaf of bread,
or a snake when he asked for a fish?
If you then, who are wicked,
know how to give good gifts to your children,
how much more will your heavenly Father give good things
to those who ask him.

“Do to others whatever you would have them do to you.
This is the law and the prophets.”

Reflect on It: Today's gospel is about boldness! The Lord of the universe wants to lavish love on us...he wants us to be bold enough to ask for the things that we need, the things we desire. He will give them to us. Ask you will be given, seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened to you! Sweet Jesus wants to lavish you with love, will you let him?

Pray about It: Lord, you know what I need and what is good for me. Help me to ask for those things only and help me to see when you are lavishing me goodness and these things! I love you! Amen.

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March 12, 2014

Read It:
While still more people gathered in the crowd, Jesus said to them,
“This generation is an evil generation;
it seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it,
except the sign of Jonah.
Just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites,
so will the Son of Man be to this generation.
At the judgment
the queen of the south will rise with the men of this generation
and she will condemn them,
because she came from the ends of the earth
to hear the wisdom of Solomon,
and there is something greater than Solomon here.
At the judgment the men of Nineveh will arise with this generation
and condemn it,
because at the preaching of Jonah they repented,
and there is something greater than Jonah here.”

Reflect on It:
The Son of Man is our sign! We live in a time where all we want is a sign. I know that I often ask the Lord for a sign....A sign that something is what I'm supposed to do or a sign that I'm wrong...I don't care, just a sign. In today's reading, we're given the challenge that we have already received our sign. It is the Son of Man! He is all we need and we should be content in that.

Pray about It: Sweet Jesus, you are our sign. Help me to be content in knowing that today.

Live It! Challenge: Today, instead of praying for a sign, pray for hope in Jesus.

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March 11, 2014

Read It:
Jesus said to his disciples:
“In praying, do not babble like the pagans,
who think that they will be heard because of their many words.
Do not be like them.
Your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

“This is how you are to pray:

Our Father who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name,
thy Kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.

“If you forgive men their transgressions,
your heavenly Father will forgive you.
But if you do not forgive men,
neither will your Father forgive your transgressions

Reflect on It: Today, we learn from Sweet Jesus the prayer of the Church. The "Our Father is considered to be the most perfect prayer. If it's good enough for our Lord, it should be good enough for us. I know that often I feel like I'm at a loss for what to say when I pray, but here in Scripture, we're taught how to pray. Sweet Jesus for the win!

Pray about It: "Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil."

Live It! Challenge: Pray this prayer today with a protestant friend.

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